Holder for hidden clothesline



July 6, 1965 RF. LOTTA HOLDER FOR HIDDEN CLOTHESLINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fil ed Jan. 18, .1965

m V y an F m 5W .1 2 e a W J July 6, 1965 R. P. LOTTA 3,193,212

HOLDER FOR HIDDEN CLOTHESLINE Filed Jan. 18, 1963 rw/ ///////////A-'// I )QuJJeD p Lott a:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,193,212 HOLDER FGR HIDDEN CLGTHESLINE Russel! P. Lotta, 1434 Post Ave, Rockford, Ill. Filed Jan. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 253,026 6 Ciairns. (Cl. 242-107) This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 799,311, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a clothesline holder for use in extending a line between two supports, such as opposing walls, and, more particularly, to the type of holder having a reel on which the line is wound when not in use.

The general object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the above character in which the reel is constructed and arranged in a novel manner so that it may be mounted permanently in place in a room such as a bathroom without detracting from the general appearance of the room.

A more detailed object is to arrange the reel for mounting behind one of the walls of the room where it is hidden from view and to construct the reel so that the line is rewound automatically when it is released from the opposite wall.

Another object is to mount the reel in a novel manner which facilitates its mounting in the wall and removal from the wall for inspection and repair.

A further object is to reduce the number of parts required for the reel assembly whereby the fixture is capable of being manufactured and assembled economically.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a clothesline holder embodying the novel features of the present invention with some parts shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view with some of the parts shown in phantom in their assembled portions.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 2 and showing a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cover plate, reel supports, and spring housing.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown in the drawings embodied in a clothesline holder 10 adapted for use in extending a clothesline 11 between two opposing walls 12 and 13. When not in use, the line is detached from one wall and wound on a reel 14 mounted on the other wall.

The reel on which the line is wound when not in use is constructed and arranged so as to be out of the way and not detract from the appearance or the utility of the area between the walls. For this purpose, the reel 14 is disposed within a cup-shaped housing 15 mounted in a recess formed in the wall 12. The housing is positioned in the recess with the open end 16 facing outwardly and with the outer edges disposed slightly behind the plane of the wall. The housing is mounted by means of a boss 17 cast on the rear side of the housing and having a face 18 parallel to the plane of the wall. Screws 19 are projected through the face 18 and threaded into a backing board 20 which may be secured to a stud 20 of the wall.

The opening in the wall is concealed by a cover plate 21 mounted on the outer edges of the housing 15 so as 3,l3,2l2 Patented July 6, 1965 to lie fiat against the wall. Screws 22 pass through holes provided in the cover plate and are threaded into ears 22 formed integrally with the housing and extending laterally outwardly on either side thereof. In the present instance the dimensions of the cover plate 21 correspond to those of a conventional wall tile thus facilitating the use of the invention in a tiled room such as a bathroom, or the like, where the plate replaces one of the tiles as shown in FIG. 1.

In the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the reel 14 is cast in two parts 23 and 24 with the hub of the reel defined by two arcuate flanges Z5 angularly spaced apart and projecting laterally from the central portion of the part 23 to abut against similar flanges 26 formed on the part 24. The two parts of the reel are joined and held in position by pins 27 and 28 which extend through bosses 29 integral with the flanges 25 and 26.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the reel assembly is supported entirely on the cover plate 21 whereby the assembly is mountable as a unit and easily removable as a unit for inspection or repair. For this purpose, the reel is mounted on a shaft 30 spanning two laterally spaced supports 31 and 32 secured to the cover plate, the shaft being journaled on the supports to turn about an axis parallel to the wall 12. The support 31 includes a base portion 33, which is fastened to bosses 35 cast on the back of the face plate 21, and a leg 36 projecting rearwardly from the base portion to receive one end of the shaft. A similar base portion 34 and an integral cup-shaped member 37 opening inwardly toward the reel 14 constitute the support 32 for the other end of the shaft. The shaft 30 projects through holes 31 and 32 in the supports 31 and 32 and is held in position by upsetting one end to form a head 38 and by a clip 39 attached to the other end. A loop 40 formed in the end of the line 11 encircles the shaft 36 thus securing the line to the reel.

The line 11 is drawn oif the reel 14 through a hole 41 in the face plate 21 and is extended to the opposite wall 13 whereby it can be utilized as a clothesline. In order to rewind the line on the reel automatically, thereby permitting the reel to be placed in an out-ofthe-way position such as the recess, a spring 42 is mounted to act between the reel 14 and the support 32 to urge the reel to rotate in a direction to rewind the line. To this end the cup-shaped support member 37 is formed with an outer annular flange 54 which cooperates with the adjacent side of the reel to define a housing in which a coiled spiral spring 42 is disposed (see FIG. 3). The inner end 43 of the spring is attached to the pin 27 which extends through the hub of the reel thereby rotating with the reel. The outer end 44 (FIG. 4) of the spring projects through a slot 45 in the side wall of the circular housing and thus is held in a fixed position. As the line is drawn off the reel, the spiral spring is wound up by the rotation of the reel and exerts a force urging the reel to rotate in the other direction and rewind the line.

To facilitate unwinding the line from the reel and to hold the line in an accessible position, the free end of the line is secured in a cylindrical plug 46 which projects into the hole 41 formed in the face plate 21. An enlargement 4'7 formed on the end of the plug 4-6 abuts the face plate 21 to prevent the action of the spring from drawing the free end of the line into the recess. The free end projects into a hole drilled in the inner end of the plug and is held in position by a set screw 48 threaded into the side of the plug and abutting against the line. A ring 49 is pivotally attached to the enlargement 47 on the cylindrical plug as and hangs down against the face plate when not in use to provide a convenient means by which the line may be grasped to extend it to the opposite wall.

the wall.

A plate 52 having the same overall dimensions as the plate 21 on which the reel is mounted, covers the opening and is mounted on the bracket 51 so as to lie fiat against the wall. This plate is held in position on the bracket by any suitable means such as screws (not shown) which pass through the plate and are threaded into portions of the bracket. The central portion of the plate 52 is recessed and the hook 50 is mounted on the plate and disposed in the recess so that the hook is substantially flush with the plane of the plate. The hook has a pm 53 projecting rearwardly toward the wall near the open end of the hook and the ring on the free end of the line is placed below the pin to reduce the possibility of accidental disengagement of the ring from the hook.

In installing the clothesline fixture in a wall/the recess first is formed in the wall and the housing 15 is mounted in the recess. If plastering or other finishing work is required, the reel assembly is not inserted in the housing until after such work is finished thereby avoiding any possibilityof fouling the bearing surfaces with plaster, sawdust or the like. When this Work is completed, the

cover plate 12 is fitted over the open end of the housing with the rest of the assembly secured to its inner side in proper operating condition, and the screws 22 are threaded into the ears 22 to complete the assembly.

If, in service use, it is necessary to repair the fixture, for example, by replacing the line 11 with a new line, the reel assembly is removed simply by removing the screws 22 and pulling the entire assembly out of the housing 15. When the repairs have been completed, the assembly is returned to the housing and remounted in the simple manner used in the original installation.

In the modified form shown in FIGS. through 7, parts corresponding to the parts shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 are indicated with corresponding primed reference numbers. While the cover plate 21 and the basic operation of the modified fixture are the same as in the other form, the modifications serve to reduce the cost of manufacture and assembly by simplifying the construction and reducing the number of parts required.

In this instance, the supports 31' and 32', which are secured to the inner side of the cover plate 21', are composed of molded plastic and the spring housing 37 is molded integrally with the support 32'. the outer cylindrical flange 54' cooperates with the adjacent side of the reel 14' to define a housing for the spring 42. In addition, a concentric inner flange 55 is formed on the reel to telescope with the shaft 39 and 'journal the latter on the support for rotation in a plastic bearing.

To prevent rubbing of the side of the reel against the spring 42 or its housing, this inner flange 55 is made somewhat longer than the length of the outer flange 54 so that it abuts against the adjacent side of the reel and spaces the latter away from the spring and its housing, holding the reel against a boss 57 molded around the hole 31 in the support 31. Thus, the reel is rotatably supported by plastic bearings 31*, 32 and is firmly positioned axially on the shaft 30' and spaced from the spring 42. To brace the reel and associated parts against yield-.

ing under pulls on the line, an abutment 57 formed on the inner side of the cover plate, extends inwardly in position to engage the outer flange 37 of the spring housing as shown most clearly in FIG. 6.

With the foregoing arrangement, it will be seen that,

As before,

aside from screws and other stock parts, the only major parts necessary for the fixture are the housing 15, the reel 14', and the two supports 31 and 32'. All of these parts may be formed relatively inexpensively of molded plastic, the reel being one piece in this instance.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a clothesline holder that can be installed without danger of fouling the bearing surfaces with plaster and the like, is easily removable as a unit for inspection and repair, and is capable of being manufactured and installed economically because of its simplicity of construction and assembly. At the same time,

it provides a convenient clothesline which can be mounted between any opposing walls without detracting from the appearance of the room. When not in use, one end of the line may be detached and the line is automatically rewound on the reel 14 which is concealed in the other wall whereby the only evidence of the device is two attractive face plates designed to blend with the wall.

I claim as my invention: a

1. In a clothesline fixture adapted to be mountedin a recess in a wall, the combination of, a reel housing adapted to be mounted in said recess with an open end at the plane of said wall; and a reel assembly mounted on said housing and comprising a cover plate disposed over said open ends and having a hole therethrough, a pair of spaced supports composed of plastic and each secured at one end to the inner side of said cover plate and projecting into said housing, a reel composed of plastic and disposed between the inner end portions of vsaid supports, the latter being formed with alined cylindrical holes in said inner end portions defining an axis generally parallel to said plane, a shaft journaled in said holes and supporting said reel on said supports for rotation about said axis, a line wound on said reel with one end secured to the reel and with a free end projecting through said hole whereby the line may be unwound from the reel from theoutside of the plate, a cup-shaped plastic spring housing formed integrally with one of said supports and including concentric inner and outer cylindrical flanges coaxial with said reel and having an open side opening toward and spaced from the adjacent side of the reel, said inner flange being longer than said outer flange to bear against said reel and space the latter from said outer flange, a fiat spring spirally wrapped around said inner flange in the plane of said outer flange and acting between the outer flange and the reel to rotate the latter in a direction to rewind said line, and means releasabl'y securing said cover plate to said reel housing whereby said reel assembly is removable as a unit from said housing.

2. In a clothesline fixture, the combination of, a support, a reel journaled on said support for rotation about a predetermined axis, a cup-shaped spring housing on said support disposed adjacent and opening toward one side of said reel, said housing including inner and outer flanges concentric with said reel andextending toward the reel, and said inner flange beingcomposed of plastic and being substantially longer than said outer flange to space the latter away from said reel, and a flat spring spirally wound around said inner flange in the plane of said outer flange, said spring being secured at one end to said reel and at the other end to said outer flange to urge the reel to rotate in one direction.

3. In a clothesline fixture adapted to be mounted in a recess in a wall, the combination of, a reel housing adapted to be mounted in said recess with an open end at the plane of said wall; and a reel assembly mounted on said housing and comprising a cover plate disposed over said open end and having a hole therethrough, a pair of spaced plastic support-s each secured at one end to the inner side of said cover plate and projecting into said housing, 'a reel disposed between the inner end portions of said supports and journaled thereon to rotate about an axis generally parallel to said plane, a line wound on said reel with one end secured to the reel and with a free end projecting through said hole whereby the line may be unwound from the reel from the outside of the plate, a cup-shaped plastic spring housing formed integrally with one of said supports with an open side opening toward said reel and surrounded by an outer cylindrical flange concentric with the reel and spaced inwardly from said plate, a spring disposed in said spring housing and acting between the latter and said reel to rotate the latter in a direction to rewind said line, an abutment formed on said plate and projecting inwardly therefrom in position to engage one side of said flange and brace the latter against pulls exerted on said line, and means releasably securing said cover plate to said reel housing whereby said reel assembly is removable as a unit from said housing.

in a clothesline fixture mountable in a recess in a wall, the combination of, a mounting member adapted to be secured to the Wall within said recess and having an open end facing outwardly toward the plane of the wall, an apertured flat plate disposed across said open end and sized to cover the latter and said recess, securing means removably fastening said plate to said memher, a reel disposed adjacent the inner side of said plate for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the plate, a line wound on said reel with one end secured to the reel and with a free end extending outwardly through said hole, a support secured at one end to the inner side of said plate and projecting inwardly from the plate along one side of said reel, the inner end portion of said support comprising a cup-shaped spring housing disposed alongside said reel, means rotatably mounting said reel on said spring housing whereby the reel is removable from said recess as an incident to removal of said plate from said mounting member, and a flat spirally wound spring disposed within said housing and acting between the latter and said reel to turn the reel in a direction to wind up said line.

5. In a clothesline fixture mount-able in a recess in a wall, the combination of, a mounting member adapted to be secured to the wall within said recess and having an open end facing outwardly, a flat plate disposed across said open end and sized .to cover the latter and said recess, said plate having a hole therethrough, means removably securing said plate to said member, a support secured at one end to the inner side of said plate and projecting inwardly therefrom, a reel rotatably mounted on the inner end of said support for rotation within said recess about an axis generally parallel to said plate and for removal from the recess as an incident to removal of said plate from said mounting member, a line Wound around said reel with one end secured to the reel and the free end extending through said hole, and a spring acting between said support and said reel in a direction to wind said line onto the reel.

6. In a cl-othesline fixture adapted to be mounted in a recess in a wall, the combination of, a reel housing adapted to be mounted in said recess with an open end at the plane of said wall; and a reel assembly mounted on said housing and comprising a cover plate disposed over said open end and having a hole therethrougb, a pair of spaced supports each secured at one end to the inner side of said cover plate and projecting into said housing, a reel disposed between the inner end portions of said supports and journaled thereon to rotate about an axis generally parallel to said plane, a line Wound on said reel with one end secured to the reel and with a free end projecting through said hole whereby the line may be unwound from the reel from the outside of the plate, a cupshaped spring housing formed integrally with one of said supports with an open side opening toward said reel, a spring disposed in said spring housing and acting between the latter and said reel to rotate the latter in a direction to rewind said line, said spring housing including concentric inner and outer flanges with said spring being disposed in the plane of said outer flange and said inner flange being longer than said outer flange to bear against the adjacent side of said reel and space the latter from the outer flange and said spring, and means releasably securing said cover plate to said reel housing whereby said reel assembly is removable as a unit from said reel housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,015,459 1/12 Riggle 242-107 1,620,590 3/27 Be'tts 242l00 1,882,385 10/132 Johnson 19l-l2.2 1,909,621 5/33 Maury 2-4284.3 2,797,435 7/57 Decker 242--l07 2,904,189 9/59 Eisert 21l1 19.1 3,055,159 9/62 Gonzalez 242-407 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CLOTHESLINE FIXTURE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A RECESS IN A WALL, THE COMBINATION OF, A REEL HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN SAID RECESS WITH AN OPEN END AT THE PLANE OF SAID WALL; AND A REEL ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING AND COMPRISING A COVER PLATE DISPOSED OVER SAID OPEN ENDS AND HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH, A PAIR OF SPACED SUPPORTS COMPOSED OF PLASTIC AND EACH SECURED AT ONE END TO THE INNER SIDE OF SAID COVER PLATE AND PROJECTING INTO SAID HOUSING, A REEL COMPOSED OF PLASTIC AND DISPOSED BETWEEN THE INNER END PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORTS, THE LATTER BEING FORMED WITH ALINED AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PLANE, A SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PLANE, A SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID HOLES AND SUPPORTING SAID REEL ON SAID SUPPORTS FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS, A LINE WOUND ON SAID REEL WITH ONE END SECURED TO THE REEL AND WITH A FREE END PROJECTING THROUGH SAID HOLE WHEREBY THE LINE MAY BE UNWOUND FROM THE REEL FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE PLATE, A CUP-SHAPED PLASTIC SPRING HOUSING FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS AND INCLUDING CONCENTRIC INNER AND OUTER CYLINDRICAL FLANGES COAXIAL WITH SAID REEL AND HAVING AN OPEN SIDE OPENING TOWARD AND SPACED FROM THE ADJACENT SIDE OF THE REEL, SAID INNER FLANGE BEING LONGER THAN SAID OUTER FLANGE TO BEAR AGAINST SAID REEL AND SPACE THE LATTER FROM SAID OUTER FLANGE, A FLAT SPRING SPIRALLY WRAPPED AROUNDED SAID INNER FLANGE IN THE PLANE OF SAID OUTER FLANGE AND ACTING BETWEEN THE OUTER FLANGE AND THE REEL TO ROTATE THE LATTER IN A DIRECTION TO REWIND SAID LINE, AND MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID COVER PLATE TO SAID REEL HOUSING WHEREBY SAID REEL ASSEMBLY IS REMOVABLE AS A UNIT FROM SAID HOUSING. 